WI: "Cardinal" Richelieu in the military

[Mort the Reaper]

Armand Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, could very well have not been a cardinal at all. Originally, he was being groomed for a military career, while his older brother Alphonse was intended to be named Bishop of Luçon, a bishopric that had been granted to the family as a reward for their father's service in the French Wars of Religion by King Henry III. However, Alphonse decided to become a Carthusian monk instead, so Armand left the military and joined the clergy. The rest, as they say, is history.

What if Alphonse had decided to become bishop, letting Armand stay in the military?

 

[alexmilman]

Armand Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, could very well have not been a cardinal at all. Originally, he was being groomed for a military career, while his older brother Alphonse was intended to be named Bishop of Luçon, a bishopric that had been granted to the family as a reward for their father's service in the French Wars of Religion by King Henry III. However, Alphonse decided to become a Carthusian monk instead, so Armand left the military and joined the clergy. The rest, as they say, is history.

What if Alphonse had decided to become bishop, letting Armand stay in the military?

Alphonse joined the Carthusian Order in 1606. He was archbishop of Aix in 1626, archbishop of Lyon in 1628. He was created cardinal in 1629. Can’t tell how much he benefitted from his brother’s position. So he would end up in the Church one way or another but with a very high probability not a PM.

Armand’s military career is a much less clear area. Of course, the officer position is guaranteed but connections of his family had been, IIRC, relatively limited so nothing like career of the Duke of Enghien or Vicomte Turenne who became the army commanders in their 20s. Another problem was his weak health: during the war the life conditions of the junior and mid rank officers could be quite harsh. His mental capacities (and skills in intrigue) are undeniable but they would be of a serious advantage only if he manages to find an important protector and even then this protector should be placed very high on a totem poll to provide promotion to the top ranks.

Which does not mean that he absolutely could not became a marshal, just that not being as close to the royal family as he was in OTL (and then not being a cardinal) he would have a much more difficult time building up a career. Of course, he would have a good chance for promotion if he managed to get on a good side of the Duke of Luynes or someone who would become to the royal favor after his death but otherwise the military field had been quite crowded by the high ranking aristocrats, a group to which ge did not belong. An option, up to a certain level, would be to buy himself a position but he was not rich enough, probably not even for buying a regiment.

 

[TyranicusMaximus]

I think the lack of Cardinal Richelieu is more interesting than the middling career he would end up with.

 

[alexmilman]

I think the lack of Cardinal Richelieu is more interesting than the middling career he would end up with.

Indeed. To start with, this absence is making a future direction of the French domestic and foreign policy almost absolutely unclear outside of a continued problem with the Huguenots. For example, whoever is in charge may opt for the domestic-oriented agenda trying to improve economic situation in France instead of trying to make France a preeminent state in Europe as Richelieu did. Which may change a lot of things including course of the 30YW. Or that person may not try to increase the royal power at the expense of high level aristocracy. O he may start creating French national army earlier and more efficiently than Richelieu did, etc. The options are numerous

 

[Historymaster]

Commander Du Plessis of the Royal Musketteers has a nice sound. And the Misketteers were the royal guards so he could be close to the king that way; maybe saving his life and the building on the king's gratitude?

 

[alexmilman]

Commander Du Plessis of the Royal Musketteers has a nice sound. And the Misketteers were the royal guards so he could be close to the king that way; maybe saving his life and the building on the king's gratitude?

At the time of Louis XIII the royal musketeers were one of the Guards units and not as important as they became under his son and career wise this was almost a dead end: neither Troisville (Treville) nor d’Artagnian (who was very high in LXIVs favor) made it to the marshals of France or army commanders.
As for the gratitude, he would be too young to be in charge of Concini’s assassination and, anyway, Vitry was much more entrenched at the French court (grandson of a Marshal of France, companion of Louis when he was still a dauphin).

 

[Historymaster]

Knowing Richelieu, Vitry would hav an unfortunate accident and then he would be there ready to consulate the king for the loss.

 

[alexmilman]

Knowing Richelieu, Vitry would hav an unfortunate accident and then he would be there ready to consulate the king for the loss.

I probably was not quite clear. Vitry became a marshal for killing Concini. Richelieu was too young and not connected well enough to became a commander of the company of the Garde du corps du roi by 1617 and definitely was not a close confidant of Louis XIII since he was a dauphin. So Richelieu could not replace him in this specific action and would not become marshal. The future events related to Vitry are not important: he was not critically important in the French domestic and foreign policy and 1637-43 he spent in Bastille.

In OTL Richelieu was making his career first by showing his abilities at the Estates General as the most eloquent representative of the 1st Estate and then by faithfully serving the Queen-Mother's favourite, Concino Concini, the most powerful minister in the kingdom. In 1616, Richelieu was made Secretary of State, and was given responsibility for foreign affairs and later was returned by the King as a person capable of reasoning with his mother. As a lay person he simply would not be anywhere close to the inner circle and would not have the same type of an influence to launch his career. He would be a junior officer and not a very rich or very aristocratic one. Who and why would ask his opinion on the affairs of state? Who and why would appoint him to any command position? Even if he distinguishes himself in the wars against the Huguenots to a degree that allows him to be appointed captain of the royal musketeers, this is a dead end appointment with no impact on the state affairs.

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

more difficult time building up a career. Of course, he would have a good chance for promotion if he managed to get on a good side of the Duke of Luynes or someone who would become to the royal favor after his death but otherwise the military field had been quite crowded by the high ranking aristocrats, a group to which ge did not belong. An option, up to a certain level, would be to buy himself a position but he was not rich enough, probably not even for buying a regiment.

This made me think of the line from Evita: Now Eva Peron, had every disadvantage, you need if you wanna succeed.

On another note, Alphonse might find it "more difficult" to "ingratiate" himself with the king here. His brother, Henri, had been part of Maria de Medici's circle alongside Concino Concini and there rumours Henri du Plessis, was involved in/knew about the assassination of Henri IV IIRC

 

[Historymaster]

I probably was not quite clear. Vitry became a marshal for killing Concini. Richelieu was too young and not connected well enough to became a commander of the company of the Garde du corps du roi by 1617 and definitely was not a close confidant of Louis XIII since he was a dauphin. So Richelieu could not replace him in this specific action and would not become marshal. The future events related to Vitry are not important: he was not critically important in the French domestic and foreign policy and 1637-43 he spent in Bastille.

In OTL Richelieu was making his career first by showing his abilities at the Estates General as the most eloquent representative of the 1st Estate and then by faithfully serving the Queen-Mother's favourite, Concino Concini, the most powerful minister in the kingdom. In 1616, Richelieu was made Secretary of State, and was given responsibility for foreign affairs and later was returned by the King as a person capable of reasoning with his mother. As a lay person he simply would not be anywhere close to the inner circle and would not have the same type of an influence to launch his career. He would be a junior officer and not a very rich or very aristocratic one. Who and why would ask his opinion on the affairs of state? Who and why would appoint him to any command position? Even if he distinguishes himself in the wars against the Huguenots to a degree that allows him to be appointed captain of the royal musketeers, this is a dead end appointment with no impact on the state affairs.

To me you are understimating the intelligence and cunning of Armand. But it's a matter of hopinion, we can agree we disagree.

 

[alexmilman]

This made me think of the line from Evita: Now Eva Peron, had every disadvantage, you need if you wanna succeed.

A lot of people made it to the top from a disadvantageous position and you can also mention Mme Maintenon or Mme de Pompadour but even as a military Richelieu had …er… an anatomical disadvantage. 😂

On another note, Alphonse might find it "more difficult" to "ingratiate" himself with the king here. His brother, Henri, had been part of Maria de Medici's circle alongside Concino Concini and there rumours Henri du Plessis, was involved in/knew about the assassination of Henri IV IIRC

As a junior officer (even of the guards) he would not have the same access to the inner circle as being a bishop and definitely would not have a chance to make him as prominent as he did in the Estates General. Neither would he have the same influence on Queen Mother, the reason by which he was invited into the Council of State. Not being a cardinal he would not be able to demand and receive the preeminent position in the council, etc.

But OP was about him making a military career and this field was rather crowded by the people of a much higher birth getting high positions automatically while he would have to raise by a merit. If anything, position of the captain of musketeers was a dead end and as far as the army is involved, while we know that he was very intelligent, this does not mean that he had a military talent.